END THE SILENCE

THE TEAM APPROACH A NEW TOOL FOR AN OLD IDEA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SEX OFFENDERS AND THE PREVENTION OF SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION The Importance of Victim-Centeredness and a Comprehensive Approach to Sex Offender Management for Community Safety Lindsay Palmer Director of Prevention and Education King County Sexual Assault Resource Center

THE TEAM APPROACH Victim-centered work and the need for a tool Multidisciplinary teams SMART Grant and our tasks Our approach to community outreach Some of the findings on our collaborative effort Q and A Final thoughts AGENDA

THE TEAM APPROACH VICTIM-CENTERED: AS A PHILOSOPHY Includes victims & victim advocates Recognize ongoing risk to victims and community Victims and victim advocates inform policies & strategies Transparency and information sharing is vital

THE TEAM APPROACH VICTIM-CENTERED: AS A METHOD Three Dimensions REFRAME SEEK INPUT BROADEN

THE TEAM APPROACH Requires multi-disciplinary collaboration. Victim and community safety are paramount and should be placed at the forefront of sex offender management strategies. SEX OFFENDER MANAGEMENT: PREMISES “ The most comprehensive and responsible approaches to community management of sex offenders are those which place paramount importance on addressing the needs and safety of past and potential victims of sexual assault.” Center for Sex Offender Management: The Comprehensive Assessment Protocol

THE TEAM APPROACH You are a key partner in this effort. A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO USING AN MDT MODEL “Collaboration requires agencies and individuals to recognize the importance of diverse perspectives, share resources, and make a commitment to work together to enhance capacity toward attainment of a common goal.” Center for Sex Offender Management: The Comprehensive Assessment Protocol

THE TEAM APPROACH We Value: Empowerment of community and/or individuals Collaboration that fosters mutual understanding and support Offender accountability without minimizing the impact Hope MESSAGING TO VICTIM ADVOCATES

THE TEAM APPROACH VICTIM-CENTERED: SUMMARY A philosophy that places the safety of victim and potential victims at the forefront of how we manage sex offenders; and A method that requires us to incorporate a new dimension into the multi-disciplinary approach by examining each policy or case management decision through a lens that includes and seeks input from victim advocates so we all can accomplish the goals of no more victims.

THE TEAM APPROACH Emotions: out in the community Connection: between us and the community WE BELIEVED THAT OUR WORK TOGETHER CAME DOWN TO JUST TWO THINGS:

THE TEAM APPROACH It is the “elephant in the room” that isn’t talked about but it is present. Knowledge does not change emotions. Some of the reasons why fear and anger are in the room. THE EMOTIONS IN THE ROOM

THE TEAM APPROACH WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT SEX OFFENDERS WHO VICTIMIZE CHILDREN DO YOU THINK IS MOST TRUE? (CSOM, 2010)

THE TEAM APPROACH FROM WHAT SOURCE HAVE YOU RECEIVED MOST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SEX OFFENDERS? (CSOM, 2010)

THE TEAM APPROACH I WANT MORE INFORMATION THAN I HAVE NOW ABOUT THE WAYS THAT SEX OFFENDING CAN BE PREVENTED IN MY OWN COMMUNITY (CSOM, 2010)

EDUCATION OUTREACH AS PART OF OUR WORK SOME UNIQUE IDEAS THAT WE HAVE FOUND ARE EFFECTIVE

THE TEAM APPROACH Things to not say: “I hate sex offenders, too.” “If it were up to me ______.” “I know how you feel.” “Yes, even sex offenders have rights.” Things to say: “If you see something suspicious, call.” “This does not have to be the end of the conversation. Here is my card.” “I hear your frustration.” SOME SIMPLE IDEAS:

THE TEAM APPROACH Share information that helps to dispel myths about sex offenders and about victimization Spend a short time talking about the complexity of the issue of victimization and sex offender management. There is no one solution to this social problem. There is no way we can have no more victims without the involvement from everyone. Laws and incarceration will not stop this social issue. We also need to find ways to prevent and that is where the community has a role as well as the members of the MDT. MOST IMPORTANTLY……

THE TEAM APPROACH What they “look like” varies What they “do” varies Who they target varies Why they do it varies Their risk to recidivate varies SEX OFFENDERS ARE A DIVERSE POPULATION

THE TEAM APPROACH THE ROLE OF A COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS OFFICER (CCO) “A CCO has a unique job and does the work that no one else can do!” Police Detective who monitors sex offenders Supervises: Registration Treatment Alcohol and drugs Relationships Entertainment Employment Residence Contact with potential victims

THE TEAM APPROACH The goal is to reduce the risk of a re-offense for the sex offender, and… THOUGHTS ABOUT RISK……..

THE TEAM APPROACH ….increase the factors that ‘protect’ or influence the stability and the pro-social behaviors.

THE TEAM APPROACH Treatment Providers Landlords Community Parole Block Watch Captains Law Enforcement Prosecuting Attorneys Job Supervisors Defense Attorneys Victim Advocates Guardians Family and Friends PARTNERSHIPS WORK! Partnerships

THE TEAM APPROACH 44% of victims are under the age 18. Sixty percent of rapes go unreported. More than 50% of all rape/sexual assault incidents reported by victims have occurred within a one-mile radius of their home or in their home. Approximately 2/3 of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT VICTIMIZATION

THE TEAM APPROACH Lindsay Palmer Director of Education and Prevention King County Sexual Assault Resource Center MY CONTACT INFORMATION

THE TEAM APPROACH “People want a silver bullet that will protect their children, [but] there is no silver bullet. There is no simple cure to the very complex problem of sexual violence.” Patty Wetterling, quoted in the 2007 Human Rights Watch Report, No Easy Answers: Sex Offender Laws in the US